Interested in becoming a vegetarian...?!
Interested in becoming a vegetarian...?
I have been thinking about it for a long time and I really want to give up meat and everything that goes along with it. I'm wondering though if it's possible for me, I'm on a very stick budget and I'm worried that it may be more expensive because of the vegitarian alternatives I'd have to buy, like soup with veggie stocks for example. Does anyone feel that they spend more because of this or do you actually save on not buying meat?
Also, what are some good websites that offer vegitarian recipe ideas? Any tips on how to get started and whine myself off of meat? Thanks in advance for your help!
Answers:
Eating vegetarian is always much cheaper, that is if you don't buy vegetarian convience food, (the health food section of the freezer isle), Stear clear of the vegetarian gourmet health food alternatives, (ex. mock meats), and it is probably the cheapest way to eat.
Source(s):
Living on my own since 18 has kept me on a strict food budget, whilst being a vegan.
I dont know about hte websites, but I do about ebcoming a veggie, not from experience (been one my whole life) but when my mum and dad became one they were really ahrd up, what they deicded to do was gradually become one over a year so they ould find cheaper recipes they liked in that time, it also helps you stivck at it! Back then there were barely any veggie alternatives and they found it really hard, but quorn isnt too expensive now and theres loads of other alternai es that are great and resonably priced!
Hope I helped
Em xxx
It's not anymore expensive. You don't have to eat meat substitutes every day...they're fine for an occasional treat, but there are so many good foods that you won't need them, especially if you're an ovo-lacto vegetarian. Produce, both fresh and frozen, pasta, peanut butter, breads, all are much cheaper than meat. And you can't get a cheaper protein source than eggs and beans. Give it a try and I think you will find that you actually save money.
www.goveg.com has not only recipes but information on vegetarianism/vegans.
You can still eat pasta, beans, or just a plate of veggies and rice. I love to eat sliced zucchini squash, boiled with a little water and salt and garlic cloves with a lil' salt, on a plate with mashed potatoes, rice and I LOVE cranbery sauce-I eat it all year!
Campbells soups are all about the same price, wether with meat or without. I love the one "Hearty Vegetable" it has little seashell pastas in it and the base tastes almost like spagghetti sauce. It's vegetarian.
Meat can be expensive, so I imagine you will save by not buying it.
Just find the things that are less expensive, and focus your diet around those. Meat substitutes can be kinda pricey, so you'll have to go easy on them.
Tofu is great. Learn to love it.
Oatmeal is cheap for breakfast.
Pasta is fairly inexpenive for how much it makes.
Look up diffrerent ethnic foods. You can cook vegetarian indian food with just potatoes, vegtables, and spices. And it's yummy!
hope that gives you some ideas.
believe it or not, when i went veggie, i went to the supermarket to stock up on veggies and other vegetarian foods. i bought just as much or more than usual, and my bill was considerably lower!!!
well come to the world of vegetarian because of you more and more animals will save their lives thanks
Proteins: Body's protein needs can be provided by either animal or plant sources. Mixed protein diet obtained from various plant sources is better than animal protein and is recommended in diabetes, renal diseases and liver diseases. Mixed protein diet from different plant sources has been the pattern of diet in India for all vegetarians.
Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates are mainly found in plant foods; like cereals, grains, fresh and dry fruits, legumes, vegetable, greens, nuts etc. plant carbohydrates include' large amounts of starches, sugar and fibers which are important for gut functions. The body is better suited to a high carbohydrate diet than a low carbohydrate diet. In fact 55% of the food intake should be carbohydrate. All animal products do not contain carbohydrate which is essential for body.
Fat: Plant fats differ from animal fats in two different ways 1) they are cholesterol free 2) they generally contain more polyunsaturated fat and less saturated fats. Plant fats usually have higher polyunsaturated fat value than animal fats.
A diet which is low in cholesterol and which contains fat of a high PIS value is associated with a lower incident of coronary health disease.
Vitamins and Minerals: plant foods are rich in many vitamins and minerals.
Vitamin D: Vitamin D is obtained by exposure of skin to sun light and this is not a problem in India.
Calcium: The vegetarians can meet their needs for calcium from dairy products. Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) Dark green vegetables are good sources of Riboflavin as are legumes and whole grain cereal.
Iron: The problem of iron deficiency is relatively common but vitamin C significantly enhances absorption of iron hence it is advisable for vegetarians to include with each meal a food high in vitamin C which as lime, citrus fruits or juices.
Zinc: Zinc is found in large number of plant foods.
Fiber: Fiber is found only in vegetarian food like whole grain cereals, legumes, greens, fruits, vegetable etc.
Thus in vegetarian foods all requirement of nutrition for body growth and maintenance is fulfilled. One can have a complete and balanced diet provided we take enough food which is as close to nature as possible in maintaining sturdy and disease free body. It is equally helpful in curing many diseases.
ADVANTAGES OF VEGETARIAN DIET:
More & more evidence is surfacing that directly links a prolonged non- vegetarian diet to diseases as cancers, heart diseases, diabetes, asthma just to name a few.
1. LOGEVITY: Vegetarian can expect to live 4-10 years longer then the non-vegetarians.
" Source: Seventh day Adventists study
2. LESS HEART DISEASE: Because of low fat, saturated fat and cholesterol content of the vegetarian diet the risk of heart disease is lowered. High blood cholesterol levels are associated with increased risk of heart disease.
3. LESS CANCER: Up to 40% of all cancers are diet related. Cancer death rates have been associated with obesity and high fat / low fiber diet. Vitamin A & C are thought to be protective against colon cancer. Low fat diets protect against prostrate and breast cancer. Indoles, lignans, isoflavones, protease inhibitors which are present in plant foods and shown to be potent anti carcinogens.
4. LESS BOWEL DISEASE: Diverticular disease and appendicitis occur more frequently with low fiber intake as in meat diet.
5. LEES OBESITY & LESS INCIDENCE OF DIABETES: It is easier to plan a low fat diet for a vegetarian then for a meat eater. The fiber in plant food dilutes the energy & provides a satisfying meal without all the calories. Diabetes over the age of 40 seems to be related to obesity.